Pilate to Co-Pilate*


Dennen and Dude

I met Barry Dennen tonight. He attended the screening of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood and he did a short Q&A session after the film.

The film looked amazing. It was so great to see it on the big screen. Ted and Carl were gorgeous, as was the scenery of Israel. Not since Lawrence Of Arabia have I seen such sweeping vistas of deserts and canyons. So powerful. And the music and lyrics in that show are just top notch. Nothing matches it as far as I'm concerned.



After the beautiful final shot of the shepherd tending his sheep below the silhouetted cross at sunset, the credits rolled in silence. The house lights came up and Barry Dennen approached the front of the theater to warm applause. He's smaller than I realized and now grey-headed and bald on top. I also didn't know he is American! He sang/spoke with a perfect English accent in the film. He lived in England for a long time and is still well known there, much more than here in the States.

Mr. Dennen told us the story of how he got involved in the show. He was doing Cabaret in London with Judy Dench when he met Murray Head through an agent. Murray and Barry became friends and worked on some projects together. About that time, Murray told Barry that a couple of acquaintances were working on a new rock opera called "Jesus Christ" and would he like to get involved with it? Barry went to the studio to meet Andrew and Tim and they played the half dozen songs they had finished so far. Barry loved the music and gladly joined the project. He had a close connection with the show as it progressed from the concept album to the Broadway stage and then the film. In fact, it was he who insisted director Norman Jewison test Ted and Carl for the leads. They had both assumed the roles on Broadway but Jewison hadn't seen either of them before.


"Judas, must you betray me with a kiss?" -- from the 1973 film (above) and the 1993 reunion tour (below).


Dennen has performed the role of Pilate several times on stage since then, and he's kept a busy career of film and TV work over the years. Most recently he joined the current touring production of Jesus Christ Superstar in the role of Herod, and I can imagine what a delightful interpretation he must give.

A short while ago he wrote a book about his early romance with Barbra Streisand. They met in New York in 1960 when they were both struggling young actors working on a terrible play. Barbra wanted to be a serious actress but when Barry heard her sing he told her she had to be a singer. Barbra wasn't really interested but Barry convinced her to give it a try and he directed her first nightclub appearances. They also became lovers during this period and they lived together for about a year in New York. Barbra became a huge superstar shortly thereafter.


A jolly fellow, Barry Dennen today.

After Mr. Dennen made his comments I stepped up to greet him and introduce myself. I told him I had performed the role of Pilate in the last reunion tour with Ted and Carl. "Did you love it?" he asked cheerfully. By then a small crowd had gathered around us and a woman pointed to me and said, "You were wonderful, Scott! I saw the show several times." That was nice to be recognized.

Barry said that he had loved working with Carl on the most recent JCS tour, but that it was terribly sad to see Carl get sick and have to leave the show. "It was so difficult for everyone in the cast," he said. "We watched him die right in front of us."


Carl Anderson, 27 February 1945 -- 23 February 2004


Barry Dennen has a wonderful website with a lot of great stories and information. Some of the pictures in this blog came from his site.


Ted Neeley and Barry Dennen as 'Pilate and Christ' in the 1973 film. Below, Ted Neeley and yours truly on stage 25 years later.


*Special thanks to Heidster for the title. If only we'd taken a picture!

Bowie is back after heart surgery. 

It's certainly good news for all Bowie fans that the man was spotted shopping in New York's Chinatown today.  Bowie stopped to greet fans and well-wishers and even chatted with a few neighborhood police officers.  He also took a moment to observe some Chinese men playing mah jong in the park.

Going semi-incognito for his first public appearance after emergency heart surgery last month, Bowie was dressed casually in jeans, t-shirt, and cowboy hat.  He's also sporting a new moustache and mutton chops!  Kind of a Neil Young look going....



Click on Bowie's hat if you'd like to see a few more pics!

Jeopardrink!: The KenJen Edition

Just read a very funny blog by surfergirl, who writes for Slate magazine online.  Seems there's been a competition to create a Jeopardy! drinking game and the winner has been chosen.  It's a takeoff of the "Hi Bob!" game based around the Bob Newhart shows, though Jeopardrink! has a little more structure and player-interaction considering it's based on a well-established TV game show.

And to add even more intrigue to the high-stakes brinksmanship thrilling viewers so far: "There are only four games remaining until the season ender this Friday, when we find out whether KenJen will make the jump to come back as next season's returning champion."

The suspense is killing me....

"Stop the Insanity!"

I've been irritated for months about the whole stupid 'low-carb' diet phenomenon, which is just a bunch of crap.  It's just another marketing trend that has taken off incredibly, and to absurd proportions.  I've been joking for weeks that early next year doctors will reverse themselves (as they always do) and discover the nutritional value of a high-carbohydrate diet.  Then all the restaurants and food companies will advertise the 'high-carb' diet and all will be well with the world.  Whatever.

My friend Stennie turned me on to an hilarious rant on a blog called Tomato Nation.  It's a bit long, but worth the effort.

We Americans must be the laughing stock of the world; and if we're not, we should be!

Wanderlust

All my life I've had an unquenchable desire for knowledge and travel.  I'm not sure why.  Maybe I inherited it from my maternal grandfather who moved his family dozens of times around northern Texas when my Mom was a child.  It was this burning desire that led to my sojourns to Japan in the mid-1990s, and my two-year adventures on tour with Jesus Christ Superstar.

Since coming to LA in 1997, I haven't had quite the same lust for travel as in my youth.  Not sure why; perhaps life in southern California is unsettling enough on its own.  Now, however, I feel the pangs of discovery beating in my heart again.  It's only a dream at this point, but god I'd love to be able to explore more of planet Earth while I'm still here.

As a teacher of English to international students, I've met students from all over the world, including thousands of Taiwan Chinese.  But I've never had more than a passing curiosity in China and Taiwan.  My interests always belonged to Japan.  That has now changed. 

I saw an amazing episode of Globetrekker tonight about Hong Kong and Taiwan.  I sat there awe-struck for the full hour.  I had no idea there was so much beauty and diversity in that part of the world.  When I think of China, I think of Communism, oppression, poverty, and most of all, crowds.  Those things are probably true, but I didn't realize how much great beauty there is, both natural and man-made.  China has evolved tremendously in the past decade or so into a burgeoning global power.  There is a tangible sense of optimism and joy from the modern Chinese people that is quite infectious (much like America must have been about a hundred years ago).  I see it in my students, whose English improves with each new group that arrives, and I saw it on this television program in the attitudes of the Chinese people, their unprecedented emphasis on development and construction, and their connection and respect for the historical past.

As the Chinese economy continues to modernize and expand, so does their culture and their influence in the world.  A wise person once said, "What comes around, goes around."  China once had the greatest empire in the world.  I have no doubt that in the 21st century they are well on their way to reclaiming that title.

Ken Jennings


Alex and Ken: Together Forever? 

Surely you've all heard about this now legendary Jeopardy! champion who has reigned more than 30 consecutive days and has won over a million dollars in prize money. This guy is amazing. How does he know so much? It's really incredible.

At this point he and Alex Trebek are so chummy together, the other contestants tend to sink into the background, like bad window-dressing in someone's home that probably won't be there the next time you visit. He and Alex even have a witty repartee going, as if Ken is the co-host or sidekick of the show. He's Alex Trebek's Paul Schaffer or Ed McMahon.

Alex and Ken have spent so much time together, they finish each other's sentences. On tonight's show Ken chose the first Daily Double clue and said "I'll wager --." 
 
Alex interrupted, "$6,800?"
 
"That's right, the usual," Ken replied with that golden smile of his.  It's like Ken is a regular at Alex Trebek's bar and being a good bartender, Trebek anticipates his customer's desires without them even having to ask.

A few moments later Ken picked the second Daily Double question. The audience applauded appreciatively while the other two contestants turned to each other in resigned conversation. By this time those two could have made plans to spend the weekend together. But Ken surprised Alex by only wagering $5,000.
 
"Why?!" Alex questioned painfully, like a lover whose trust has been betrayed.

"I'm trying to keep a safe margin between my opponents," Ken replied.

"If you say so," Alex chided. "You know, I could easily make the wagers for you as long as you answer the clues correctly," Alex offered with a forgiving smile.

"Yeah, why am I even here at this point?" laughed Ken, head in his hand. 

Ha ha! Oh boy, it's all fun and games (literally) at "Alex and Ken's place." Or should it be "Ken and Alex's"? Hmmm. Alex has been on the show for so long, but Ken is the reason people are tuning in these days. Soon Ken's agents will be asking for equal billing with Alex. And who knows, maybe Ken will take over as Jeopardy! host someday when Alex realizes he can't keep up with the 30-year-old whippersnapper.

How long can Ken Jennings last?  We'll just have to tune in and see...

Follow the link below for a funny audio commentary from comedian Jake Johannsen:
NPR : Ken Jennings, 'Jeopardy!' Legend in the Making

This Land
 
...this is the funniest thing I have ever seen on the 'net.... http://www.jibjab.com/thisland.html

Bloggin' Blues

Sounds like a song title. Haven't had much time or reason to blog lately. Busy with summer mayhem at UCLA, always a hectic time. Nice to be working though. Will help to pay some bills, then I'll be broke again in the fall. Ugh.

Here's a picture of me (second from the left) last Saturday (July 3rd) at the BowieNetters party in Redondo Beach. It was held at the apartment of the lovely Paula (aka Squeakie), the girl in front wearing the Bowie T-shirt. It's a great place situated on the bluff overlooking the beach...gorgeous view!


BowieNetters party in Redondo Beach!! 

I'm using a new program called Hello to post the pictures. I'm not sure if I like it yet -- the software is not the most intuitive -- but it's a start.

No wonder I'm famous!

I had no idea why I was so famous amongst my colleagues on BowieNet, David Bowie's official website. Everyone I meet from the online community seems to have heard of me or know something about me, even though I don't post much on the message boards.

Well, I happened to be browsing through the Bowie News section from a couple of months ago, back when Bowie & his band returned to LA to play the famous Greek Theater in Hollywood. I wrote a review of that show and posted it on the message boards. I didn't notice that the Bowie News moderator chose my review to be featured on the official Bowie News page!

No wonder I'm famous amongst BowieNetters!! Every person who visited the news page (thousands of 'em) saw my review!

If you haven't already read the review and you're just dying to have a crack at it (shyeah, right) you can find it on the BowieNet news page -- you may have to scroll back to April 25th (my review is the third one down). Or simply visit my blog entry here.

People Are Nice Today

Everyone must have had a nice 4th of July weekend because the whole world is smiling today! (at least in LA)

Traffic was relatively light and curteous, strangers greet each other on the street, attractive young women smile at me, the entire staff at my oil change place stopped by to say 'hello' while I waited for my car, and I have been filled with extraordinary positive energy the last few days. I went jogging through the park the other day for the first time in my life, and I loved it! And I can barely sleep with all the creative ideas popping into my head at night. And this after just a few days off work...imagine what I could do with a week's vacation in Mexico!

We had a three-day holiday weekend and I went to social gatherings all three days! Saturday was a delightful BowieNetters barbecue down in Redondo Beach -- a gorgeous ocean view and cool sea air was enjoyed by all. (Not to mention all the smoke and booze.) It's great to meet so many people who are just as obsessed with David Bowie as I am -- sometimes even more so! My heart ached every time "China Girl" was played ("I feel a-tragic/like I'm Marlon Brando"...rest well old man).

Sunday was the traditional July 4th fireworks extravaganza with the Giffords. Little Gabe was in good spirits and getting cuter than ever. Randy and Heather seem very refreshed and a lot thinner after their month in Breckenridge. We went for a bike ride through the neighborhood after dinner, then watched the fireworks in the Valley from the hill above their home.

Monday was an intimate dinner party with a few friends from the BowieNet party who live in Burbank. Great people and newfound pals. Delicious home-cooked Italian food as well! They inspired a new nickname for me: "Scott Hollywood" since I live in Hollywood (or pretty close at least). There's two Scotts in the BowieNet group but the other guy lives in Orange County. I've used my regular name on BowieNet since I joined back in 1998, although I've considered changing it to a more creative username several times. My close friends always call me "Scottydude" and I've used that on several websites (including my own). I also tried "thinwhitedude" once on BowieNet but it didn't stick for some reason. Everyone already knows me as "scottspalding" or more recently "Scott S." But I love "Scott Hollywood" -- it's totally cheesy but it would be a great gossip rag pen name!!

I think it's going to be a good summer.